Mattiello says he is 'firewall' protecting the state from 'ultra left-wing groups'

Katherine Gregg Journal Political Writer kathyprojo

Wednesday

Nov 7, 2018 at 3:20 PMNov 7, 2018 at 4:08 PM

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Buoyed by his reelection, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello took to the airwaves on Wednesday to re-assert his role as "the firewall'' against the "ultra left-wing groups" that tried and failed to knock him out in his home-district in Cranston.

Speaking on WPRO-radio, Mattiello, who has called a Democratic caucus for Thursday night, said: "I am putting a team together to move the state forward and we welcome everybody onto the team, but I will say this: "We are not going to let a minority voice that would tax our citizens out of existence, that would have terrible policies for the state of Rhode Island, move us back decades be the controlling voice."

"If you look at the entire caucus that came out against me, that's what that represents,'' he said.

Mattiello survived a multi-pronged attack by - among others - construction trade unions unhappy at his role in the loss of the Pawtucket Red Sox to Worcester, a joint effort by the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence and the state chapter of the National Organization of Women, and the 18 Democratic lawmakers and candidates who announced on the eve of the election that they would not vote to reelect him as Speaker.

In the end, he beat his Republican challenger Steven Frias by 310 votes, in an election in a conservative Cranston House District in which 6,581 people voted, according to the unofficial Board of Elections tally.

"We are not going to allow a minority voice to control the state of Rhode Island,'' he said, on radio and in a subsequent interview with The Journal. "I am the firewall."

He also labeled as "unfair' and "totally irresponsible" the attempt to tar him with the allegations of sexual harassment that Rep. Katherine Kazarian - naming an older, married legislator - mentioned in a private email to him, that was leaked to WPRI-TV in the last lap of the election.

"At the end of the day,'' he said, "seeing that effort fail, that unfair process fail, was heartwarming, quite frankly."

No one has taken credit for making public the email that Kazarian, D-East Providence, has indicated she wanted to keep private, while seeking Mattiello's help in keeping her distance from then-House Judiciary Chairman Cale Keable. Keable lost his bid for reelection to his House seat from Burrillville.

But the anti-Mattiello group known as "Citizens for a Corruption Free RI" - that was formed by RI Now and the RI Coalition Against Gun Violence - put out a statement of disappointment on Wednesday.

“Mattiello’s dictatorial leadership style is what’s extreme,'' said Linda Finn, the former state lawmaker who headed the joint effort.

"During his time as Speaker, Mattiello has single-handedly held back legislation that would protect a woman’s right to choose, that would allow survivors of sexual assault to seek justice, and that would keep firearms out of K-12 schools, all at the behest of the corporate lobbyists and special interest groups that support him. These are not ‘extreme’ positions. In fact, they’re supported by the vast majority of Rhode Islanders.” Finn continued, “Despite the widespread support these bills enjoy, it is not possible to pass any of them under Mattiello’s corrupt, autocratic leadership.”

“We knew we were taking a huge risk when we entered this race,” Finn said.

"But we felt strongly and continue to believe that the people of Rhode Island deserve leadership that is free from the taint of corruption, and that will not continue to hold back the state’s economy as well as legislative packages that impact women, children and families. We call on all those in the legislature who support clean government that works for the people of Rhode Island to oppose Mattiello for Speaker of the House,'' she said.

The caucus has been called for 6 p.m. Thursday at Chapel Grille Restaurant in Cranston. Mattiello told The Journal he intends to reinstate the top players on his leadership team. They include Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi, Majority Whip John "Jay" Edwards, Deputy Majority Whip Christopher Blazejewski and Deputy Speaker Charlene Lima.

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